Suffolk County District Court - Rights of a Crime Victim or Witness

Many innocent persons or their dependents may suffer disability, incur financial hardships, become dependent upon public assistance, or suffer personal physical injury or death as a result of criminal acts. Aid, care and support is provided by the state for such victims of crime, through the New York State Crime Victims Board.

Your local police department or district attorney can explain what your role is in the criminal justice process, the significant stages of this process and how to obtain information about these stages.

There are laws to protect you if you are being threatened or intimidated by the alleged offender or the offender's family or friends.

You have a right to be involved in certain stages of the criminal justice process. Local police departments and the district attorney can explain your role in the criminal justice process, the important steps in the process, and how you
can get information about those steps, and if you supply the district attorney with your current address and telephone number, it is possible to be notified of the important steps in the process.

You should be contacted by the district attorney to discuss the outcome of the suspect’s case, if you are the victim of certain felonies.

You have the right to make a statement at the time of the defendant’s sentencing, if you are the victim of a felony.

You have the right to request HIV testing for the convicted defendant, if you are the victim of a felony sexual offense.